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Is it true that the FIAT 500's fuel economy will improve once the car is fully run in?
I have heard a lot of complaints from friends and acquaintances who own FIAT 500 TwinAir cars. The complaint is over fuel consumption. Most people seem to get about 30mpg. I went with my daughter to the FIAT showrooms and I raised this point with the salesman. He said that after the car was fully run in the fuel consumption would improve. Do you buy this claim? Or is he trying to fool us?
Asked on 5 March 2011 by LD, Surrey.
Answered by
Honest John
Fully investigated. If the car is used in town, driven with some gusto and the Econ button is not pressed, then you will get 30 - 40mpg. There's nothing you can do. The car passed its EC Certification test and they are the only figures manufacturers and dealers are legally allowed to use even though they so not represent real life.
However, if, rather than quote the EC figures, a salesman had told you "you'll get 68.9mpg," then that is different because he has personally promised it to you and you haven't got 68.9mpg (I don't think anyone has). See: www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/green-motoring/2011-02/s.../ And: www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/green-motoring/2011-02/5.../ Real Life Fuel Economy Register here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg
However, if, rather than quote the EC figures, a salesman had told you "you'll get 68.9mpg," then that is different because he has personally promised it to you and you haven't got 68.9mpg (I don't think anyone has). See: www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/green-motoring/2011-02/s.../ And: www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/green-motoring/2011-02/5.../ Real Life Fuel Economy Register here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg
Real MPG enables you to register the fuel economy you are actually getting against your make and model of car, its engine and type of transmission.
Every time you enter an average consumption figure against your car, the overall average automatically adjusts to reflect it.
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